Reviews

Rocannon's World / Planet of Exile / City of Illusions / The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

haygurlhay's review

2.0

After reading Wizard of Earthsea (which I read because of the 2004 Syfy mini series Earthsea), I thought I could claim LeGuin as a staple in my go to sci fi writers. But this book was SO DENSE and honestly for no reason. I loved the plot and concept itself, but there were too many roundabout subplots I just got bored (to the point where I feel asleep on the Chicago El train reading it without realizing it).

I just couldn't bring myself to read it and so it's just hanging out. On my dining room table. Looking lonely...

jensteerswell's review

4.0

I'm not a big reader of science fiction, and so although the ideas are interesting - a race of humans that is gender-neutral most of the time and that can become either sex for a few days each year - I have a hard time adapting to the jargon.

nwhyte's review

http://nhw.livejournal.com/900061.html[return][return]One of Le Guin's early books, which I had not previously heard of; I thought it was rather impressive, though. Set in a far future depopulated American continent, the protagonist, Falk, has appeared out of nowhere with no memory and goes on a quest to recover / discover his identity. The first half of the (short) book is an Odyssey-style journey across the continent, the second half, after his arrival in Es Toch (the city of illusions in the books's title), is his attempt to outwit the sinister Ching and fulfill his quest. It is a little pulp-ish in design and execution, but I really am surprised not to have heard more about this as part of Le Guin's Suvre.

enteringthetwilightzone's review

3.0

3.35 stars. Not what I expected. Sci fi is very different now. This was more of a political novel with sci fi aspects. I get why it’s well-regarded but since I was expecting more science fiction, it was just a bit disappointing.

kajury's review

3.0

Finished Rocannon's World. Enjoyed it and looking forward to the next.

jain's review

4.0

Science fiction with a high fantasy aesthetic: Rocannon's World is populated by alien races who are deliberate elf, dwarf, etc. analogues, and the writing style is rather Tolkienesque. In most authors' hands, this would be dire. Le Guin pulls it off fairly believably, but so much of the (short) book is spent explaining and justifying how these alien races could have evolved in this particular manner that the plot gets a bit lost in the shuffle. There are a few purely awesome scenes scattered throughout the book, but overall it just feels tired and boring. Definitely not Le Guin's best work.